Bafana will arrive in Freetown this weekend to find their opponents in disarray. Sierra Leone football is at war with its most famous player, Mohamed Kallon.
The 31-year-old striker, who first played for his country as a 15-year-old and at 16 was the youngest player in the Nations Cup of 1996 where Bafana triumphed at home, has been left out of the squad - and he's bitter.
"This is a political," he said. "They want to get rid of me because they think I am a threat to them."
Kallon plays for Shaanxi Chanba in China's Super League. He is one of three foreign-based players not included in Christian Cole's squad to face Bafana on Sunday evening.
Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane said: "It does not matter who plays against us, they will be just as determined.
"I take no comfort in the fact three of their key players are missing. We are also without Steven Pienaar who is injured."
Despite the home team's difficulties, Bafana know they will be severely tested at the Brooksfield stadium on Sunday.
Bafana won their first qualifier 1-0 against Niger in Nelspruit and Sunday's game is their first away from home in qualifying for the 2012 Nations Cup. The team will not have forgotten that Sierra Leone beat them two years ago, denying Bafana a place in this year's Nations Cup in Angola.
A win for South Africa would set them up for two big games against Egypt next year. Only the group winner is guaranteed a place in the 2012 finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena said: "It is never easy to play away from home, but to be fair, we have a different side this time.
"There will be a different defence and attack from 2008. That will make a difference and we are far better prepared, thanks to the World Cup and all the friendly matches we have played this year."
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.